Hackney teenagers taunted victims of armed robberies

Aaron Byrne and his accomplice Daniel Gilbert were sentenced to a total of 16 years Pic: Metpolicepressbureau

Two Hackney teenagers have been sentenced to a total of 16 years in jail after committing a series of armed robberies in which they mocked and taunted their victims.

Aaron Byrne and his accomplice Daniel Gilbert, both 19, ridiculed and teased their victims while looting their homes for valuables.

Serial burglar Byrne committed his first known burglary with accomplice Gilbert on October 13 of last year.

The victims, aged 27 and 28, opened their front door in Moulins Road in Homerton, South Hackney, to find three masked men, one wielding a knife. Byrne and Gilbert demanded money and jewellery from the suspects.

The teens forced their victims to lie on the floor face down while they carried out their robbery, and became increasingly agitated when they could not find anything to steal.

Byrne was sentenced to nine years and four months of imprisonment for two counts of aggravated burglary; Gilbert received a sentence of six years and eight months for one count of aggravated burglary.

Byrne admitted to an additional 21 burglary offences, which were considered by the court.

Detective Constable Matt Mowbray, from Hackney CID, said: “A number of the victims caught up in the aggravated burglaries genuinely feared for their lives and are still coming to terms with their terrifying ordeals. I hope that they too find comfort in this sentence.